The Winning Window for “Best Overall” is Lisa-Marias Made in Maine, 35 Exchange Street in the Old Port, Portland.

There Are Still Christmas Trees and Wreaths Availacble From Tree Gulls, 199 West Commercial Street, Portland.  The Clam Box is Open, Weather Permitting. So Customers Can Get Some Hot Cider and Oysters While  Shopping for the “Perfect Tree.”

Musician Frank Fotusky Entertains Customers at The Thirsty Pig This Afternoon With his Appealing Guitar and Blues Singing.

The Popular Thirsty Pig, is the 2021 Holiday Winner for the Community Choice Award.

Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine is the winner of the “Best Overall” award in the annual Portland Downtown competition this year.  The winning window is framed with garlands and twinkling lights that set it apart from the rest of the competition according to the announcement issued late last week.

“The decorations in the window are all items from the store made by Mainers.  I had a vision of what I wanted it to look like.  I talked to one of our team members, Bailey. She did all of the art work in the window including the notorious Christmas characters,” said Marie, one half of the team of Lisa-Maries, at 35 Exchange Street, in the Old Port of Portland.

The popular gift shop won the Community Choice award in 2019 and in 2018 it won the Best Overall award.  “We are on a roll here and we want to maintain these high standards,” said Marie chuckling.

Right next door, The Thirsty Pig, was the winner of the Community Choice award.  Well-known for its hot dogs and other things,The Thirsty Pig had more than 200 likes on Facebook, making it the Comunity Choice winner..    “This window screems festive with its red/gold color scheme, twin tall moment and holiday train,” according to Portland Downtown officials. “Every month until we run out of ideas we are going to have a new window,” said David  Nowers, co-owner and manager of the popular venue.  “We are going to begin this tradition next month.”

Meanwhile, customers looking for a relaxing break from shppping on one of Portland’s busiest streets, were enjoying the music of Frank Fotusky at The Thirsty Pig. His singing and guitar playing put this blogger in a relaxed mood  and was a good tonic for these times!  He performs every two weeks on Sunday afternoons from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm according to several family members who were in the audience.

The “Best Theme” award went to Maine College of Art (MECA), on Congress Street.

There were 45 entries in the competition this year.  Because of that. the number of awards were doubled according to Downtown Portland officials.